ఇంట్లో ఇంకుడు గుంత: హైదరాబాద్ కుటుంబాలకు ఆచరణాత్మక గైడ్

Rainwater harvesting at home: A practical guide for Hyderabad households

When summer comes, many apartments and houses in Hyderabad wait for tankers. The boreholes dry up. But during the rainy season, the roads in the same city turn into ponds. If we can channel some of that rainwater into the ground, both these problems will be reduced. The solution to that is rainwater harvesting — in our language, Inkudu Guntha.

How much water is available? — A simple calculation

The rule is simple: if one millimeter of rain falls on one square meter of roof, one liter of water will fall.

For example, let's say your roof area is 100 square meters (about 1,075 square feet). Hyderabad receives an average of 800 millimeters of rain per year. That means 100 × 800 = 80,000 liters. About 60,000 liters can be collected as steam and waste. That's the equivalent of many tankers!

Two methods

1. Storage: The process of piping water from the rooftop into a tank or reservoir for direct use. This water is useful for gardening, washing cars, and flushing toilets. Proper filtration and purification are essential for drinking purposes.

2. Recharging: Pumping water into the ground through a well increases the groundwater level. This improves the water level in your borehole. This is mostly recommended for urban homes.

How to build a pond?

• Location: Next to the house, close to the borehole, and away from the septic tank (at least 6–10 meters).

• Dimensions: A pit measuring approximately 1 meter long × 1 meter wide × 1.5–2 meters deep is sufficient for a typical house. If the house is large, a larger pit or two pits are required.

• Layers: Large rocks (pebbles) should be placed at the bottom, small gravel in the middle, and coarse sand on top. These will filter the water.

• Pipes: All downpipes coming from the roof should be connected to this pit. It is a good idea to install a "first flush" so that the first rainwater (containing dust and leaves on the roof) can drain out.

• Cover: The pit should be covered with a net or hole cover to prevent children and animals from falling in.

• Borehole recharge: If you have an old, dry borehole, you can directly recharge it by building a pit with a filter around it. Expert advice should be sought for this.

How much does it cost?

The cost varies depending on the size of the house, the material, and the type of soil. Local contractors say that it will cost anywhere from a few thousand rupees to twenty-thirty thousand for a typical house. Apartments cost more, but when spread out per flat, it is very less. This is less than the cost of tankers in a single summer.

Management

• Roofs and gutters should be cleaned once a year before the rainy season.

• The top layer of sand should be removed and a new layer applied every two to three years.

• Make sure that kitchen water, soapy water, and chemicals do not enter the pit.

Terms

Local authorities and water boards are enforcing regulations in cities requiring septic tanks for new buildings above a certain size. Contact your municipal office or water board for the regulations that apply to your area and available technical assistance.

Conclusion

If every house acts as a small pond, the city itself will become a large water storage center. Before this rainy season, dig a cistern in your house — it will not only benefit your well, but also your neighbors' wells.

Photo: Spiritualfade (talk) 09:37, 23 July 2009 (UTC) / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)